Kendrick Thompson

Last updated
Kendrick Thompson
Personal information
NationalityBahamian
Born (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 (age 27)
Sport
Sport Athletics
Event Decathlon
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)Heptathlon: 5636 (West Lafayette, 2020)
Decathlon: 8182 (Gotzis, 2023)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas
NACAC Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2025 Freeport Decathlon

Kendrick Thompson (born 28 August 1997) is a multi-event athlete from The Bahamas. [1]

Contents

Early life

He is from Andros, The Bahamas. [2] Thompson studied physical education at the University of the Bahamas. [3]

Career

2021-2023: National record holder

At the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Easter Track Classic in 2021, he beat Ken Mullings' national record for the decathlon gathering a total of 7,644 points with Mullings second in the event on 7,642 points, both scores breaking the previous record of 7,427 points set in 2019. During the event Thompson had personal best performances in four events; the javelin, 1500m, 110m hurdles and long jump. [4]

In April 2022, competing in Miami, Florida, Thompson accumulated a total of 7,762 points to set a new national record in the decathlon. [5] The following month, he broke the national record again in the decathlon at The Jacksonville Combined Event Qualifier with a total of 7,788 points. [6] He competed for the Bahamas at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, becoming the first Bahamian to compete in the decathlon at the games, and was sitting seventh overall after the first day of competition, but had to withdraw after suffering an injury during the pole vault competition and was unable to compete in the javelin. [7] [8]

In 2023, he improved on his own national record with a score of 8,038 with a fourth-place finish at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California. He then improved it again at the Hypo-Meeting in Götzis, scoring a total of 8,211 points for a ninth place finish. [9]

2024: Shark attack

Thompson was unable to compete in 2024 after surviving a boat accident and a shark bite. His recovery led him to be nicknamed in local media as the 'Bionic Man'. [2] While he was away from competition, Ken Mullings regained the Bahamian national record, and scored 8226 points at the 2024 Olympic Games. [10]

2025— return to action

He finished third at the Mt. SAC Relays decathlon in April 2025 with 8009 points. [11] He competed at the Hypo-Meeting in Götzis in May 2025 scoring 8079 points for fifteenth place. [12] He competed the 2025 Décastar decathlon in Talence, France, a gold meeting on the World Athletics Combined Events Tour, placing third overall with a score of 8177 points. [13] He won the silver medal in the decathlon at the 2025 NACAC Championships. [14]

References

  1. "Kendrick Thompson". World Athletics. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  2. 1 2 Stubbs, Brent (30 June 2025). "Decathlete Kendrick 'Bionic Man' Thompson bounces back in action". Tribune242. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  3. Stubbs, Brent (6 April 2021). "Thompson sets national decathlon record". Tribune 242. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  4. "UB Mingoes multi-event specialist Kendrick Thompson breaks national record at Easter Classic". Eyewitness News. April 6, 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  5. Stubbs, Brent (11 April 2022). "Surge to a new record". Tribune242.com. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  6. "Kendrick Thompson breaks his national decathlon record". Tribune242.com. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  7. "Gold medal glory for Nairn, disappointment for Kendrick Thompson". Tribune242. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  8. "Injured Kendrick Thompson withdraws from decathlon". Tribune242. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  9. "Another national record for decathlete Kendrick Thompson". Tribune242.com. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  10. "Men's Decathlon es Results - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics". Watch Athletics. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  11. "Mt SAC Relays". World Athletics. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  12. "Hypo Meeting". World Athletics. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  13. "Owens-Delerme wins decathlon, Araujo retains heptathlon title in Talence". World Athletics. 6 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  14. Boal, Erik (August 16, 2025). "JANEE' KASSANAVOID REPEATS IN HAMMER TO HELP U.S. WIN SEVEN NACAC GOLDS, HANDAL ROBAN ROLLS IN 800". Youth Runner. Retrieved 17 August 2025.